Hailey's Newsies Issue 50 - August 14th 2009

Youtube's Favorite TNA Knockout

Another Knockout gets eliminated.

Only 11 remain.

Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0zMdC-ww4A&feature=channel_page

18. Jenna Morasca
17. Traci Brooks
16. Raisha Saeed
15. Sharmell
14. Awesome Kong
13. SoCal Val
12. ???

Returning Strikers

On November 2, 2007, Chris Masters was suspended by WWE for 60 days because he had failed the drug program for a second time. Executives spent the next few days trying to decide if it was worth it for them to keep him around.
Six days later, and the company decided that he was not worth the trouble (and the potential bad publicity) and Chris Masters was released.
In September 1, 2007, Eugene was informed by WWE that he was being released because he had failed his third drug test. The release came a few days after he worked a program with Mark Henry on an episode of Smackdown.
Both Eugene and Chris Masters received the typical reaction that most wrestlers get when they leave WWE.
First, a lot of fans try to discredit any and all abilities that they may have since they're no longer associated with WWE. Then, speculations began about when Eugene and Chris Masters would be joining TNA (which obviously didn't happen).
Instead, both guys have been brought back into WWE.

Bringing back strikers like Eugene and Chris Masters can be a risky move because of the potential that it has for sending the wrong message to people.
For one, the corporate sponsors are going to need to be alerted that the company has hired back two wrestlers that were previously fired from their jobs because of drugs.
Giving second chances might be a valuable lesson to teach the younger fans, but bringing back two guys that have had prior issues with drugs isn't.
These two moves also sends the wrong message out to the wrestlers as well.
For a while there, WWE was having some major issues with developmental wrestlers failing drug tests. It doesn't send a very strong message to these wrestlers that the punishment is going to be severe.
You're also going to encounter issues with wrestlers who have been punished for their own drug violations as well. It's been said that WWE did not bring up the drug issue when they released Brian Kendrick. It would have looked bad for them to have brought it up, knowing that Chris Masters and Eugene were back in the fold.

Nothing against either guy (Eugene is a very talented in-ring performer and Chris Masters has the look), but it's hard not to wonder if WWE is taking a risk that's worth it.
If you're going to have people accusing you of not taking the drug program seriously, then you do it for someone that is a bigger star. You do it for the likes of Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, and Rob Van Dam.
Those are guys that can draw in fans and revenue. Not too many people are going to be tuning into the program to see Eugene and Chris Masters.

New Backpack

WWE has released a brand new backpack featuring John Cena's logo.

http://www.wweshop.com/Product_detail.asp?productId=25-00242

Major Changes for the Knockouts

Some major changes are in store for the Knockouts.

With Jeff Jarrett's spot in the company uncertain, there's been several changes that have been made backstage in TNA. Many of these changes are already having effect on the Knockouts division.

Dutch Mantel, the man that played a big part in building up the Knockouts division into what it is today, has already been ousted from his spot on the creative team. Savio Vega, a friend of Jarrett that was brought into the company as an agent for the Knockouts division, was let go as well.

With Mantel gone, there was some concerns as to whether or not there will be someone to fight for the Knockouts to get television time on iMPACT! However, it's been said that Dixie Carter will continue to give them television time as long as they continue to produce in the ratings, which they've been doing for quite some time now.

TNA already reached out to Scott D'Amore to return to the company, and he agreed to do so. D'Amore, considered one of the brightest minds in the wrestling business, will be returning to the company to take over the Knockouts division. He left TNA last year to focus more on his business ventures.

DX Returns Again

WWE has been on a mission as of late.
The company wants to produce higher television ratings, even if it's not a long term boost. WWE seems satisfied with short bursts in the ratings.
That mentality is perfectly epitomized by the company's weekly publicity stunt where they have a celebrity (or a former wrestler) be the guest host for Monday Night Raw.
Thus far, the weekly promotional event has produced favorable results. The ratings have seen a nice little rise over the last few weeks.
That leads the company to believe that these short term publicity stunts are working. It appears as if the way to go is to do short term hype in hopes of getting people to stick around for the long term.
Enter DX.
Triple H and Shawn Michaels have been put back together in the legendary stable that made them two of the most popular stars in the business.

While the majority of wrestling fans are excited about seeing the return of DX, there are a few critics out there that point to the fact that the company is simply ignoring the long term plan of building up new stars.
In a way, what would be best for WWE in the long term would be to build up the younger wrestlers in the company and hope that the audience will stick around with them as they elevate themselves up towards the main event scene.
That's how the company reached record heights with the likes of Steve Austin, the Rock, and the original Degeneration X.
It's easy to blame WWE for going with the quick solution. However, the company has to make do with what they currently have.
As much as fans want so badly to believe, there's not a Steve Austin or the Rock waiting in the wings. There's some talented performers on the undercard, but none of them have shown the potential to get to that level yet (not a lot of people in this world are ever going to come close to that level).

Quite simply, WWE needs to go with what works.
The ratings for Raw were expected to drop a bit from the episode featuring Jeremy Piven to the episode featuring Sargeant Slaughter. You can expect that since one is a big time celebrity while the other isn't.
Apparently, someone didn't give Shawn Michaels and Triple H that memo. Ratings actually went up for the episode, and much of that can be attributed to the buzz created by the DX reunion.
Even with a segment that was a bit too corny, DX is the talk of the internet wrestling community again. The spotlight is once again on them.
Since the spotlight is on them again, hopefully, that will give some shine to Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. Their tag team match against DX is easily the biggest match of their young careers.
If DX can give those two guys credibility, then the return has been a huge success in terms of the wrestling side (the business side is already showing signs of success).

New Mysterio Shirt

WWE has released a brand new shirt for Rey Mysterio entitled "Warrior".

http://www.wweshop.com/Product_detail.asp?productId=01-10840

Jericho/Khali in MacGruber

Chris Jericho and the Great Khali will be teaming up on the big screen soon.

The two wrestlers have been signed on for parts in the upcoming MacGruber movie. In fact, Chris Jericho has already informed his fans (through his Twitter account) that filming for his scenes has already begun. No word yet on whether or not the Great Khali has begun filming his scenes yet.

Neither wrestlers are strangers to the acting business. Chris Jericho has appeared in some smaller movies, and the Great Khali can be seen with former wrestler Dwayne Johnson (affectionately known as The Rock to wrestling fans) in the movie, Get Smart.

Filming for MacGruber is being done in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The movie, which is a parody of the ever popular MacGuyver television show, is scheduled to be released in April of 2010. It will star Will Forte, Val Kilmer, Ryan Phillippe, and others.

Mayweather to Return?

Wrestling fans could be getting another dose of Floyd Mayweather very soon.

Reports have surfaced that WWE has been heavily recruiting the former WBC Welterweight Champion to return to the company. Rather than wrestling the Big Show like he did at Wrestlemania 24, Mayweather would simply be the special guest host of Raw.

Right now, WWE has former Raw general manager Mike Adamle penciled in to host the August 24, 2009 episode in Las Vegas. However, it's been said that the company would replace him on that show if Mayweather agreed. The boxer does live in Las Vegas.

There is some incentive in this for Mayweather. He has a big fight in September that he needs to promote. If anyone knows Mayweather, then they know that he's all about the promotion.

Eugene Released Again

Just less than a month after the company brought him back into the fold, Nick Dinsmore (better known as Eugene to wrestling fans) has once again been released by WWE.

Eugene reportedly signed a contract with WWE in July of this year.

Wrestling fans spent quite a bit of time wondering what type of role he would have with the company. Some believed that he was being brought back as a trainer. Others believed that he was being brought back as an in-ring performer.

The mystery was cleared when Eugene started working house shows and dark matches. Those were basically practice matches to get him ready for television. On the August 10th edition of Raw, Eugene made his return to WWE television in a match against the Calgary Kid (the Miz under a mask).

WWE management must not have been impressed with the performance. The decision to release him was made shortly afterwards.

There's been talks that Eugene could be staying with the company, though. Reports have surfaced that he could be in line for a trainer position down in Florida Championship Wrestling, the developmental company for WWE.

Source : WrestlingRevealed

lol at eugene being hired and rehired
i thought u were going to put adw in the newsies lol

I will put it in the next edition.

Khali in a movie? doesnt sound interesting.

I dont care for another DX reunion.

poor Eugene hired and fired, just like that

I hope the KOs still get tv time. I enjoy their matches.

i liked Khali in the longest yard
that was basically a film about wrestling rejects or neverwasses

Stone Cold was in the Longest Yard LL.. he was a "neverwass"?

no im talking about khali being a neverwas, directed at his neverwas ability to wrestle
stone cold is a wrestling reject...which is just a weird way of sayin hasbeen....so change reject to hasbeen

Khali in Longest Yard was fine since he didnt have to really speak...just be big and imposing.

I think Khali appeared in this film before his appearance in the WWE, meaning he wasn't a neverwas!

He talked English once in the film too, I believe. So any young fans who watch will know he doesn't speak just Indian and that the translator isn't necessary.

lol he spoke english, but they shoved subs in their non the less